Impact
/ˈɪm.pækt/noun
A forceful collision or a strong effect or influence.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin *impactus*, the past participle of *impingere*, meaning “to strike against” or “drive upon,” so its core image is physical force before it became emotional or social influence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ped-
“to strike, push, or drive”
Latin
Latin
impingere
“to thrust into, strike against, or dash at”
Latin
Latin
impactus
“struck against; driven into”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
impactum
“a striking against; a collision”
16th–17th Century
English
impact
“a striking against, collision”
Modern English
English
impact
“a collision or a strong effect or influence”